Some classics from Harold tonight.
I question the value for money when compared to how it was being run under a private sector operator where it maintained the KLM link and cost the local tax payer nothing.
Yes, eventually had to resort to 'whataboutery' and pug is right to pick up on value for money. If you ignore all the Mayoral tomfoolery and shennanigans, you get down to the fundamental issues of spending taxpayers money and there are three concerns:
1. is the money being spent in the right areas? Are you getting the best for Teesside, what's the opportunity cost to the area? Note all talk of 'Global connectivity' and 'if you can't fly there, you won't invest' has disappeared;
2. are you getting value for money - are you spending the money on the right things? Did all that money have to be spent in the terminal, is the freight centre a 'white elephant'?
3. Is the money being spent appropriately - is it being spent in an open and transparent way, are contacts awared fairly, is there competition, are the individual contracts value for money?